Michigan
3-2-1, 1-0-1
Northwestern
2-3-1, 1-1
Win 150: U-M Blanks Northwestern for Milestone Victory
9/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
» Michigan scored at 8:30, 35:23 and 88:16 to record its 150th win in program history.
» William Mellors-Blair became the first player with two assists in a game since Tyler Anderson equaled the feat on Oct. 7, 2014.
» The 28 shots prove to be the fifth most in a single match in program history.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (U-M Soccer Stadium)
Score: Michigan 3, Northwestern 0
Records: U-M (3-2-1, 1-0-1 Big Ten), NU (2-3-1, 1-1-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,103
Next U-M Match: Wednesday, Sept. 23 -- at Oakland (Rochester, Mich.), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team capitalized on a pair of first-half goals in an offensive barrage to defeat Northwestern, 3-0, Sunday (Sept. 20) at the U-M Soccer Stadium. The victory marks the 150th win in program history.
The Wolverines got their first chance at goal just two minutes into the match. Senior winger William Mellors-Blair picked up the ball on the left wing and dribbled into the box. After cutting back on his right foot, he swung a ball toward the back post. Freshman winger Francis Atuahene got on the end of it, but his redirection was smothered by Northwestern's Zak Allen.
Mellors-Blair and Atuahene proved a dangerous duo as the game wore on. In the ninth minute, Mellors-Blair sprinted down the left wing again, cut back to his right foot and served a ball toward the far post. Allen got his hands on it, but the ball popped straight into the air, and Atuahene slammed it into the empty net, putting Michigan ahead, 1-0.
The Wildcats had their best chance of the first half in the 18th minute. Sam Forsgren got into the box and fired a shot on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Evan Louro dove to push the ball out of play and maintained the Wolverines' advantage.
Michigan outshot Northwestern, 15-3, in the first half, and the constant onslaught of shots broke the Wildcat back line again in the 36th minute. Junior defender Rylee Woods forced a turnover just outside the Northwestern box. Mellors-Blair picked up the loose ball and provided an assist on a cross to redshirt sophomore Michael Kapitula, who slammed the ball home from 12 yards out. The goal marks the first of Kapitula's career, and it extended the Wolverines' lead to 2-0, a lead they took to halftime.
The Wildcats started the second half strong and pushed hard to get on the scoresheet. They opened the half with a pair of shots and looked solid in possession.
After spending the first 10 minutes of the half on the defensive, Michigan started to get back into its attacking rhythm. In the 56th minute, Atuahene used his speed to stride past the Northwestern defense, forcing Allen out of his net to challenge. Atuahene pushed the ball past Allen, leaving the net wide open, but the ball just got away from him and went out of play.
The Wildcats continued to press forward, winning several corners as time ticked down, but the Wolverines' defense held strong, with the majority of Northwestern's shots getting blocked or sailing wide.
Atuahene had another great opportunity in the 85th minute. He got his head to the ball off a corner kick, but Allen made a fantastic save for the Wildcats to tip the ball over the crossbar.
The scoreline held until the 89th minute, when Atuahene got free in the box and picked out redshirt senior Colin McAtee, who calmly poked the ball home to seal a 3-0 win for the Wolverines in the Big Ten home opener.
Michigan is back in action on Wednesday (Sept. 23), with the Wolverines traveling to Rochester to take on the Oakland Grizzlies at 7 pm.
Postgame Notes
• Michael Kapitula scored his first career goal.
• Francis Atuahene led U-M with nine shots and continues to lead the team in the category with 24 on the season.
• Evan Louro's clean sheet was the fourth of his career and second of the season.
• The 28 shots tie for the fifth most in program history.
• U-M improves to 3-1 this season at U-M Soccer Stadium and 20-13-4 all-time at home under Chaka Daley.
Team Stats
Atuahene, Francis
Assisted By: Mellors-Blair, Will
cross left side off goalies hands, finis
8:30
Kapitula, Michael
Assisted By: Mellors-Blair, Will
low cross, scissor kick top six
35:23
McAtee, Colin
Assisted By: Atuahene, Francis
1-2 pass inside box, lower right finish
88:16
